You can use virtual Ethernet as an alternative to using a network
card for interpartition communication.
Virtual Ethernet enables you to establish high-speed communication between
logical partitions without purchasing additional hardware. For each of the
16 ports enabled, the system creates a virtual Ethernet communications port,
such as CMNxx with a resource type of 268C. Logical partitions assigned
to the same local area network (LAN) then become available to communicate
through that link. A physical system allows you to configure up to 16 different
virtual local area networks. Virtual Ethernet provides the same function as
using a 1 Gb Ethernet adapter. Token Ring or Ethernet 10 Mbps and 100 Mbps
local area networks are not supported with virtual Ethernet.
Virtual Ethernet is an economical networking solution that provides substantial
benefits:
- Economical: Potentially no extra networking hardware is required. You
can add partitions to the server and communicate with an external LAN without
installing extra physical LAN cards. If the current server has limited available
card slots in which to install additional LAN cards, then using the virtual
Ethernet offers the capability to operate LAN-attached partitions without
the requirement to upgrade the server.
- Flexible: It is possible to configure a maximum of 16 distinctive connections
enabling the configuration of selective communication paths between partitions.
For added flexibility, the configuration model allows logical partitions to
implement both a virtual Ethernet and physical LAN connection. This is a desirable
feature when using the Linux® partition to host a firewall application.
- Fast: The virtual Ethernet emulates a 1 GB Ethernet connection and provides
a fast and convenient communication method between partitions. This enhances
the opportunity to integrate separate applications that run on different logical
partitions.
- Versatile: Regardless of whether your partitions are running on i5/OS™ or Linux,
they can all be connected to the same virtual Ethernet.
- Reduced congestion: By using the virtual Ethernet for interpartition communication,
communication traffic is reduced on the external LAN. In the case of Ethernet,
which is a collision-based standard, this will certainly help prevent a degradation
of service for other LAN users.